The Office of the State Fire Marshal has released its 2024 Annual Fire Fatality Report, providing a detailed and transparent look into fire-related deaths across Maryland. The report has been completely redesigned for 2024, offering easy-to-read graphics, interactive data visuals, and a comprehensive breakdown of each fatality by county and Baltimore City.   In total, 73 fire-related deaths were recorded in Maryland during 2024. The report includes insights on contributing factors such as the absence of working smoke alarms, heating sources, age demographics, and time of day.   This new version of the report prioritizes accessibility and clarity, aiming better…

Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz has opened as favorite to win the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night in Atlanta.  As of Friday afternoon, Cruz was the plus-330 first choice to win the annual contest at DraftKings Sportsbook. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh was second at plus-360 and hometown favorite Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves was third at plus-450.  Raleigh, the Mariners catcher, leads MLB with 36 home runs this season, which makes Cruz’s total of 16 pale in comparison. Cruz, however, launched the hardest-hit home run in MLB this season, a 122.9-mph blast May 25 against Milwaukee.

On Thursday, July 10, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Bobby Hurt.  The summons was issued as the result of an incident that occurred on July 1, 2025 at approximately 4:30 PM when officers responded to the 300 block of N. Centre Street for a disturbance.  Officers spoke with an alleged victim who reported that he was in his truck, stopped at the intersection of Knox Street and N. Centre Street, when a male subject, later identified as Bobby Hurt, climbed onto his truck, damaging it.  Hurt then fled the area.  After further investigation, police filed…

Frostburg State University has hundreds of students attending class who are not on the Frostburg campus.  They are in China where the college has an active international program.  An article in the Baltimore Banner says that the outreach is one way the college is fighting to keep revenue flowing after declining enrollment and huge cuts to its budget resulted in two rounds of job cuts. Frostburg gains about a million dollars a year from 500 China-based students, helping the Western Maryland campus to stay viable.

Senator Chris Van Hollen Thursday may have won a victory for the proposed FBI Headquarters in Greenbelt. During an Appropriations Committee markup of the Commerce, Justice, and Science bill, Van Hollen had an amendment passed to prevent the Trump Administration from using earmarked funds to move the FBI elsewhere. The committee voted to approve the amendment but the bill is now in a holding pattern after some senators changed their vote on the bill as a whole…     “I never would pretend to be someone who picked the site. We set up a process designed to make sure the…

Cumberland City Police Department provided additional information regarding the Merchants Alley incident that occurred over the weekend. Lieutenant Andrew Tichnell spoke with WCBC News saying that officers responded to a number of incidents in the location involving a disturbance and fighting. No arrest were made because no one filed charges against any individuals and the crowd was very uncooperative with officers. An investigation into vandalism, destruction of property and possible disorderly conduct charges is ongoing. Lt. Tichnell said that due to the increased criminal activity in the area additional video surveillance and patrol units will be taking place in the…

The 101st year of the Allegany County Fair opens on Friday at the fairgrounds off McMullen Highway. Reithoffer Shows will once again be filling the midway with over 20 rides and attractions, including the return of the Banshee roller coaster.  Fair Manager Kevin Kamauf tells WCBC that on Sunday there is a special way to save on the cost of rides beginning at 5pm…     “If you want to ride the rides on Sunday and you bring three cans of food and make a donation to the food bank, you can ride all evening for $15.”

The Allegany County Commissioners appointed Roger Bennett as the new director of the County’s emergency services.  Bennett has served as interim director since last October when former director, Jim Pyles, retired.  Bennett served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years, worked for the Maryland Department of Emergency Management for three years, and has been with Allegany County since 2009.  At Thursday night's commissioner meeting, Bennett thanked the commissioners for entrusting him with this new position… “I really appreciate your confidence and approval of making me your next director of Emergency Services, but over the last eight months, all the work,…

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad was recently gifted a historic executive office car from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  Wes Heinz, director of WMSR, says the car is fully equipped and operable with original mahogany walls.  Heinz says the car is a unique addition to the railroad and the community…     “To be able to capture these little vignettes of history and know that they are going to be accessible to our people in our region, in Allegany County and Cumberland, it’s very unique.  There are very few of these cars left intact and certainly operable in the nation,…

Maryland 6th District Congresswoman April McClain Delaney spoke exclusively with WCBC Thursday about the recently passed budget reconciliation package. She called the cuts a “tsunami” that would affect families, seniors and farmers in Allegany and Garrett Counties. She was particularly concerned about Medicaid and other health cuts…     “With these draconian cuts that are happening across the board, what we’re going to see is not only an impact on the ability for many of our seniors to have that health care, but it’s going to impact our rural hospitals.”